Fish and Aquarium

Your aquarium is set up and you’ve tested the water to be sure it is safe. Now, you are ready to run to the store and buy ten or fifteen colorful fish, right? Actually, if you want to have a happy, healthy environment for your fish, there’s a bit more to it than that.

Before deciding which fish to add to your aquarium, there are certain things you should consider. You can’t add a predatory fish to a tank that already contains weak fish. Fish should be about the same size, otherwise, a larger one may end up eating a smaller one. Make sure you consider what the fish will be like when it is fully mature. You want the environment to be stress-free, so it’s best to only select fish that can dwell in an aquarium together peacefully.

The best way to avoid any problems is by researching the needs and attitudes of the fish you want to get so that you will definitely know if they are compatible. You will need to make sure the fish are community fish, which means that they like to be around other fish. You will also need to find out if the fish have about the same water quality preferences and needs in terms of temperature and hardness. They are also much easier to care for if they like the same foods and plants.

A territorial fish, such as a toadfish or a damselfish, will want to be alone so it will try to scare off other fish that are somewhat similar to it, whether in species, shape or color. A peaceful fish, such as a guppy or a swordtail, is least likely to disturb others. A spirited fish, such as a blue damsel or a goatfish, may go after slower fish.